The news came in the weeks following the Board of Directors’ decision to initiate an organizational expansion process.

“The Great Circle Foundation has displayed great vision in their decision to support Kismet during a transition year,” says Ted Wroblewski, President of the Kismet’s Board of Directors. “During this time of growth, a new major donation has incredible impact. Their contribution, along with news of several other major donations these past few months, lends leverage as we prepare to offer the value of a Kismet education to twice as many students in the near future.”

Kismet Rock Foundation, which operates in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley, offers educational rock climbing programs to children with limited financial means from around New England. The unique program provides a multiyear extra-curricular education, focused on rock climbing, to children as they progress through their teens and into adulthood.

“Kismet Rock Foundation is offering a unique and important educational program,” says Jeannine Weinberg, Director of the Great Circle Foundation. “We were very excited to find an organization that gives underprivileged children an experience that will impact their confidence and their future and that they will always remember.”

The Great Circle Foundation’s contribution was earmarked for direct program support, as were recent significant contributions from the Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Charitable Foundation and the Nike Factory Store Community Grant Program. Other contributors making up this summer windfall include the Evenor Armington Trust and the Nelson Charitable Foundation, both long-time supporters of Kismet, and the Chairman’s Committee To Support Youth Activities. Alberto Alesina and Susan Adler and Brian and Carolyn Irwin earmarked their contributions for Kismet’s capacity building and expansion process.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, and the students whose lives continue to be enriched by our program, we thank these benevolent individuals and Foundations for their generous support,” says Wroblewski.

Kismet’s final summer program week, reserved for students scheduled to graduate from the program, is
underway now in North Conway, N.H.

Kismet Rock Foundation seeks applicants for a newly forming Advisory Board. To learn more about this, or about other volunteer or donor opportunities, contact Janet Bergman, Project Director, at janet@kismetrockfoundation.org or 603.986.9457. Visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org to learn more about Kismet programs or see images of students in action from this summer.

Kismet is also a member of Ebay Giving Works, so if you are interested in starting your own fundraising auction for Kismet, you can do it directly through them. Please let us know if you post anything, so that we can feature it here in the news section as well!
http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=9995

Week One of the program season is reserved for first year students. It was attended by seven middle schoolers (all pictured above) from Boston, Manchester and Bartlett. They were an unusually cohesive group for having just met each other, so despite the unfavorable conditions throughout a lot of the week, an enjoyable time was had by all! The following images are from Friday and Saturday, our two sunny days. Special thanks to Week One volunteers and Matt Braun of Matty B’s pizza for a special night out for the students.

Hassan on Turner’s Flake, Cathedral Ledge

Chris, Hassan, Alvin

Chris on Square Ledge

Anchor clinic with Mike

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